3. Rizal went to Paris and Germany in order
to specialize in ophthalmology.
He chose this branch because he wanted
to cure his mother’s eye ailment.
IN GAY PARIS (1885-86)
After studying at the Central University
of Madrid, Rizal, who was then 24 yrs old,
went to Paris to acquire more knowledge in
ophthalmology.

4. MAXIMO VIOLA – a medical student and a member of a
rich family of San Miguel, Bulacan
SEÑOR EUSEBIO COROMINAS – editor of La Publicidad
DON MIGUEL MORAYTA – owner of La Publicidad and a
statesman
Rizal gave Editor Corominas (an article on the
Carolines Question)
NOVEMBER 1885 – Rizal was living in Paris
He worked as an assistant to Dr. Louis de
Weckert, a leading French ophthalmologist.
JUAN LUNA – great master of the brush; Rizal helped
him by posing as model in Luna’s paintings.
“The Death of Cleopatra” – where Rizal posed as an
Egyptian priest
“The Blood Compact” – Rizal posed as Sikatuna

5. RIZAL AS MUSICIAN
Rizal had no natural aptitude for music, and
this he admitted. He studied music only because
many of his schoolmates at Ateneo were taking music
lessons.
He told Enrique Lete that he “learned the
solfeggio, piano, and voice culture in one month and a
half”.
He is also a flutist.
Some of his compositions are:
Alin Mang Lahi (Any Race) – a pariotic song
which asserts that any race aspires for freedom
La Deportacion (Deportation) – a sad danza,
composed in Dapitan

6. IN HISTORIC HEIDELBERG
FEBRUARY 3, 1886 – Rizal arrived in Heidelberg,
a historic city in Germany famous for its
old university and romantics
surroundings.
He became popular among the Germans
because they found out that he was a good chess
player.
He worked at the University Eye Hospital
under the direction of Dr. Otto Becker,
distinguished German ophthalmologist.

7. “TO THE FLOWERS OF HEIDELBERG”
APRIL 22, 1886 – Rizal wrote a fine poem entitled “A
Las Flores de Heidelberg” (To the Flowers of
Heidelberg) because he was fascinated by
the blooming flowers along the Neckar River,
which is the light blue flower called “forget-
me-not”.
WITH PASTOR ULLMER AT WILHELMSFELD
Rizal spent a three-month summer vacation at
Wilhelmsfeld where he stayed at the place of a
Protestant pastor, Dr. Karl Ullmer. The pastor has a
wife and two children named Etta and Fritz.

8. FIRST LETTER TO BLUMENTRITT
JULY 31, 1886 – Rizal wrote his first letter to
Professor FERDINAND BLUMENTRITT who is
the Director of the Ateneo of Leitmeritz,
Austria.
- Blumentritt is an Austrian ethnologist and
he has an interest in the Philippine language.
- Rizal sent Aritmetica (Arithmetic) book to
Blumentritt which was published in 2
languages - Spanish and Tagalog – by the
University of Santo Tomas Press in 1868.The
author was Rufino Baltazar Hernandez.
- Blumentritt became the best friend of Rizal.

9. FIFTH CENTENARY OF HEIDELBERG UNIVERSITY
The famous University of Heidelberg held its fifth
centenary celebration on August 6, 1886 where Rizal had
witnessed the said celebration.
IN LEIPZIG AND DRESDEN
AUGUST 14, 1886 – Rizal arrived in Leipzig
 He attended some lectures at the University of Leipzig
on history and psychology.
 He befriended Prof. Friedrich Ratzel, a famous
historian, and Dr. Hans Meyer, German
anthropologist.
 Rizal found out that the cost of living in Leipzig was
the cheapest in Europe so he stayed for 2 months and
a half.
 On October 29, he went to Dresden, where he met Dr.
Adolph B. Meyer, the Director of the Anthropological
and Ethnological Museum.

10. RIZAL WELCOMED IN BERLIN’S SCIENTIFIC
CIRCLES
Rizal was enchanted by Berlin because of its
scientific atmosphere and the absence of race
prejudice.
Some scientists Rizal met are:
DR. FEODOR JAGOR – German scientist-traveler and
author of Travels in the Philippines
DR. RUDOLF VIRCHOW – famous German
anthropologist
DR. W. JOEST – German geographer
DR. KARL ERNEST SCHWEIGGER – famous German
ophthalmologist

11. RIZAL’S LIFE IN BERLIN
Five reasons why Rizal stayed in Berlin:
To gain further knowledge of ophthalmology
To further his studies of science and languages
To observe the economic and political conditions of
the German nation
To associate with famous German scientists and
scholars
To publish his novel, Noli Me Tangere
Rizal worked as an assistant in the clinic of Dr.
Scweigger, and at night, he attended lectures in the
University of Berlin.
He also took private lessons in French under
Madame Lucie Cerdole.

12. RIZAL ON GERMAN WOMEN
Rizal sent a letter to his sister, Trinidad, dated on
March 11, 1886. In his letter, Rizal expressed his high
regard and admiration for German womanhood. Rizal
said that German woman is serious, diligent, educated
and friendly.
GERMAN CUSTOMS
Some of the German customs Rizal admired:
 On Yuletide season, people will select a pine tree
from the bushes and adorned it with lanterns,
papers, lights, dolls, candies, fruits, etc.
 Self-introduction to strangers in a social
gathering.

13. RIZAL’S DARKEST WINTER
The winter of 1886 in Berlin was his darkest
winter.
He lived in poverty because no money arrived
from Calamba and he was flat broke.
He could not pay his landlord and he was eating
only one meal a day.
His clothes were old and threadbare.
His health broke down due to lack of proper
nourishment.
This is one of the most memorable days in the
life of Rizal.